Cremation and ashes transport

Cremation in Sri Lanka and bringing ashes home

Buddhist: cremation. Hindu: cremation. Muslim: burial. Christian: burial. This page sets out what Sri Lanka requires, and what to check before you decide.

Send an enquiry Full repatriation guide for Sri Lanka

Cremation in Sri Lanka

Can you cremate someone in Sri Lanka?

Buddhist: cremation. Hindu: cremation. Muslim: burial. Christian: burial.

Cremation common for Buddhist and Hindu communities.

Religious context: Buddhist (Sinhalese ~70%), Hindu (Tamil ~12%), Muslim (~10%), Christian (~8%)

Local funeral timing: Variable. Buddhist funerals typically 3-7 days after death.

Buddhist almsgiving ceremonies; White clothing worn for mourning (not black); Cremation on funeral pyre for Buddhists

Weighing cremation abroad against bringing your loved one home intact? How families decide between the two.

Documentation language

Sinhala and Tamil (official). English widely spoken in tourism sector.

Airline guidance

Can you carry ashes on the flight home?

Yes with documentation via Middle East hubs.

Airline rules that apply on any route.

What affects the cost from Sri Lanka

We do not publish a figure, because it turns on the specifics of the case. For Sri Lanka the things that move it are:

Distance from where the death happened to the nearest crematorium
Whether an investigation must conclude before release
Translation, since documentation is in Sinhala and Tamil (official). English widely spoken in tourism sector.
Whether you carry the ashes yourself or need them shipped

Considering full repatriation instead?

Some families decide they want their loved one brought home intact. The full Sri Lanka guide sets out that process.

Full repatriation guide for Sri Lanka

First steps guide

What to do if someone dies in Sri Lanka

Local emergency number 119. The step-by-step first response guide covers the first 24 hours in Sri Lanka.

Official lists for Sri Lanka

Published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for British nationals. We are not connected to the firms listed.

Lawyers, where an estate or an investigation needs local legal advice

Sources: FCDO: death abroad · FCDO travel advice · Repatriation from Sri Lanka

Talk to us about cremation in Sri Lanka

We can advise on whether cremation abroad is the right choice for your family. Tell us what has happened and we will take it from there.